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Vietnam’s agricultural exports to China, including fruits, rice, cashew, and coffee, in the first nine months of this year were worth a record US$6.2 billion.
Durian exports alone were worth a whopping $1.5 billion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The other major exports included $500 million worth of rice, $434 million worth of cashew and $101 million worth of coffee.
If forestry and aquatic products were included, the exports went up to $8.71 billion, a 16.7% rise.
Overall, the country’s exports were worth $38.48 billion, down 5.1%, with China, the U.S. and Japan being the three biggest markets.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the record agricultural exports to China were due to the recent signing of export protocols by the two countries under which certain fruits like durian and vegetables could be exported through official quotas rather than just border trade as was hitherto done.
Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&TT Export Import Service Trading Company, said Vietnamese durian exports to China could reach $2 billion this year.
The ministry predicted exports of agricultural products, especially fruits, would set more new records in the fourth quarter when people consume more during the holidays.
In the near future, Vietnam will export fresh coconut to China under official quotas.
But Tung said some Vietnamese items such as dragon fruit, grapefruit and longan would have to compete fiercely with similar fruits grown in China and imported from various other countries.


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Over 9 million plastic bags were saved and more than $450,000 in rebates were given out to shoppers through the FairPrice Green Rewards Scheme last year, NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr Koh Kok Sin, Chairperson of the FairPrice Green Committee, said: "Securing a sustainable future for our Earth is the responsibility of everyone in this generation. We continue to upgrade and make our stores as eco-friendly as possible, find ways to raise environmental consciousness among shoppers, and encourage them to Think Green and Shop Green."
"We are encouraged that our customers recognise the call to care for the Earth, and share our commitment to save plastic bags and take on other sustainable initiatives. We will continue to work together with our stakeholders to build a green and eco-friendly Singapore."
The FairPrice Green Rewards Scheme was first launched in 2007 to encourage shoppers to reduce the use of plastic bags by bringing their own bags to carry their purchases.
Over the years, more than $2.3 million in rebates were given out as an estimated 46.5 million plastic bags were saved. The highest number of plastic bags was saved in 2014.
Besides encouraging shoppers to cut down on using plastic bags, FairPrice also supported Earth Hour this year by switching off all non-essential lights at its stores, offices and warehouses.
In addition, FairPrice donated $12,500 to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in its seventh year of supporting the initiative.

domain: news


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Since Thermal Technology’s initial launch in 2007, the show has increased its reputation as an indispensable destination providing a firm business platform for manufacturers, suppliers, users and researchers. The show has had a high reputation even academic industry, though it start only for members of its associations. The previous edition in 2015 welcomed 47 exhibitors and 844 visitors, and received much positive feedback from participants.
Thermal Technology 2019 will once again provide an active communication platform where knowledge, technology and business comes together. Mr Taro Kobayashi, Chairman of fair organiser the Japan Industrial Furnace Manufacturers Association commented: “The show has been developed as a business platform not only for announcing new products, but also for the exchange of thermal technology knowledge and innovation through its conference and other fringe programme events.”
The 2019 edition is expected to welcome 80 exhibitors and 1,200 visitors, which is a significant increase on the previous edition’s figures. In terms of product areas on display from exhibitors, the show will cover the likes of industrial furnaces, environmental protection, cooling technology, IT related equipment, energy supply, and more.
Thermal Technology also aims to attract a broad spectrum of visitors to the show, to provide a gathering of the entire industrial furnace spectrum. This includes distributors, agencies, universities, research institutes, students, government administrations, associations, embassies, and a number of other related industries.
Each of these professions are expected to come from the fields of industrial furnaces, steel, non-ferrous, casting, forging, heat treatment, ceramic, transport equipment, semiconductors, machinery, chemicals, glass, construction, automotive, aerospace, electronics, machines, precision apparatus, metal products, communications, software, chemistry, and the environment.
What’s more, the 2019 show will feature a number of concurrent conferences and special exhibitor presentations, each of which will highlight the very latest trends and issues across the industry.
Held every four years, Thermal Technology is organised by the Japan Industrial Furnace Manufacturers Associations (JIFMA) and managed by Messe Frankfurt Japan Ltd. For more information about the show and how to register as a participant, please visit www.thermaltechnology-expo.com
Information on all Messe Frankfurt Technology fairs worldwide: https://technology.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With more than 2,500* employees at 30 locations, the company generates annual sales of around €715* million. Thanks to its far-reaching ties with the relevant sectors and to its international sales network, the Group looks after the business interests of its customers effectively. A comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*preliminary figures 2018
- Thermal Technology 2019-1e (pdf, 456 KB)


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Just in time for Halloween, Sims Recycling Solutions, a global electronics reuse and recycling company, today announced the launch of Zombie Phone, an online service that allows individuals to sell their used cell phones directly to Sims. Based in Australia, Sims Recycling Solutions operates 16 North American sites in Arizona, British Columbia, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Ontario, Quebec, Tennessee and Texas.
To begin the buyback process, visitors to the Zombie Phone website select their current wireless carrier and identify the make, model and condition of their phones. Based on this information, an offer is instantly calculated.
If consumers decide to accept the Zombie Phone offer they can ship their devices for free by either requesting a padded envelope (or in Zombie Phone terms, a “body bag”) or printing a prepaid shipping label and shipping the device to Sims Recycling Solutions’ West Chicago, Ill., facility for processing. Upon arrival, all cell phones are automatically checked against the CheckMEND database to determine whether they were reported lost, stolen or being blocked by a wireless carrier. Devices with resale value will undergo secure data erasure and refurbishment. Devices that cannot be repaired will be dismantled, the reusable components recovered and all remaining materials recycled.
“Industry experts estimate that Americans typically hold onto their cell phones for only two years, which is one reason why 141 million mobile devices were ready for recycling, according to the U.S. EPA’s most recent figures,” stated Steve Skurnac, President of Sims Recycling Solutions. “Unfortunately, only 11.7 million of those devices were collected for recycling. We know from experience that concerns about data security and a lack of awareness about available recycling options contribute to this low recycling rate. Zombie Phone gives consumers a convenient way to securely and responsibly recycle their cell phones and make a little extra money while doing it.”
Consumers can choose to receive their payments by means of direct bank transfer or check, or they can donate their money to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured service members.
In other cell phone recycling news, last month Sprint was recognized by Guinness World Records for the most cell phones recycled in one week: 103,582 cellular phones, more than double the previous record. Sprint says it aims to collect and recycle an average of nine devices for every 10 devices sold by 2017.


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Sochi 2014: Here come the tearjerker commercials
Proctor & Gamble unveils latest commercial in “Thank You Mom” series one month before Sochi Winter Olympics.
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The Sochi Olympics are upon us, and that means one thing for certain: heartstring-tugging television commercials.
Procter & Gamble, whose “The Best Job” spots from the London 2012 Games went viral and picked up a commercial Emmy, has just released a follow-up ad for Sochi. It continues the brand’s “Thank You Mom” campaign, which shifts the focus from the athletes to the moms who raise them.
The new commercial, called “Pick Them Back Up,” pays tribute to the mothers who keep their Olympians going after the stumbles they encounter on their way to the podium. It follows the quest of four young athletes as they grow from babies learning to stand, to snow-suited toddlers crash-landing on the ice, to teens fighting through injuries, to Olympic glory, with their moms picking them up, icing their wounds and cheering them on the whole time.
The tagline: “For teaching us that falling only makes us stronger. Thank you, Mom.”
“The Best Job” garnered more than 21 million views after it aired during the London Olympics in summer 2012, P&G said in a news release. P&G includes brands such as Tide, Pampers, Gillette and Duracell.
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The possibility of an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) partnership to turn all of the iPhones and iPod Touches (over 40 million of them) out on the street into fully-developed satellite radios with a simple accessory dock, seems highly probable – according to a report by Sirius watcher Satwaves, who cites sources familiar with the situation.
Sirius XM, the company that has faced numerous financial anomalies over the past few years, and who already has an iPhone app (launched on June 18) that only permits streaming of a limited channel lineup, is set to unveil the iPhone/iPod Touch accessory docks next Wednesday, August 26th. These accessory docks, which could turn every iPhone and iPod Touch into a full-fledged satellite radio, would be called “SkyDocks.”
Sirius XM, notes Satwaves, will be hosting a special invitation only media event in New York that day (Wed, Aug.26) to show off their new products to be available this holiday season. The event is also expected to include the unveiling of a new FM modulation technology which, as Satwaves explains, works off of the cars electrical system. This technology would make the new iPhone/iPod Touch accessory docks virtually plug and play — even in vehicles without iPod integration or an audio-in auxiliary jack.
The introduction of the “SkyDocks” represents a huge opportunity of Siri. With over 40 million iPhones and iPod Touches out on the street, a deal with Apple would give the company the ability to expand its market by riding on the massive popularity of the iPhone and iPod. This will most certainly bring Sirius XM to the masses.
Back in 2005, Sirius expressed interest in partnering with Apple to put its satellite service on the iPod. But Apple CEO Steve Jobs didn’t reciprocate at the time. Maybe this time will be different.
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!


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- Halo 5: Guardians – Warzone Firefight goes live for free, trailer up
- Prison Architect, DLC now available for PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- 7th Dragon III Code: VFD demo now on eShop for 3DS
- System Shock remake Kickstarter campaign, PC demo launches
- God Eater Resurrection now available on PSN for PS4, PS Vita
Fancy A Date?
Daily Archives: December 13, 2013
Dead Rising 3 will be receiving its inaugural DLC pack on December 24, the first part of the Untold Stories of Los Perdidos. As special ops commander Adam Kane, players will seek out the missing President in the five-mission Operation Broken Eagle. The drop will also include five new weapons, a new combo weapon, a new vehicle, and a new outfit. Any experienced earned will also transfer back to the original campaign. And for gamers who haven’t tried Dead Rising 3, a 20-minute timed demo is now available on Live.


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Montclair, NJ – In honor of February’s Black History Month, Montclair Brewery has collaborated with the Harlem Brewing Company to release the Noble Like It Is porter brewed in honor of Gil Noble, former Harlem, New York and Montclair, New Jersey resident and iconic African American journalist. This beer is part of Montclair Brewery’s 3rd annual Black History Month Beer Series, which includes various beer styles that are connected to the African diaspora and/or honors Black History makers. The Noble Like It Is Porter will be available on draft early February and will be available in cans on February 13th. View a recorded discussion with both breweries and Gil Noble’s son, Chris here:
The new brew, named Noble Like It Is, is a porter brewed with Jamaican pimento seeds, also known as allspice. The was developed to honor Noble’s Jamaican roots, as both of his parents were from Jamaica. Pimento seeds are one of the most important and widely used ingredients on the island and used in a variety of stews and drinks. “We decided to create a porter,” recalls Montclair Brewery lead brewer and co-owner, Leo Sawadogo, “because porters and stouts are the most popular beers in Jamaica, after Red Stripe and we wanted to make that connection to his Jamaican roots which he cherished.”
“It is very important that his legacy is remembered and celebrated now and for generations to come,” said Celeste Beatty, founder of Harlem Brewing Company.
“Celeste and I have been wanting to do a collaboration for a while now,” said Denise Ford Sawadogo, general manager and co-owner of Montclair Brewery. “When I learned that Gil Noble was from Harlem, I knew that this was the project to collaborate with Harlem Brewing Co.”
Noble was a renowned journalist, professor, author, artist, pianist, news reporter, anchor, producer and host of “Like it Is” a weekly television program that focused on issues relevant to the African American community. He interviewed many distinguished people, such as Nelson Mandela, Mohammed Ali and Bob Marley. He was a 45-year resident of Montclair and taught media classes at various New Jersey schools, such as Saint Peter’s University, Seton Hall and New Jersey City University.
“My father was a highly skilled journalist but what made him unique was his dedication and connection to the black community and his commitment to tell the truth about our story,” said Chris Noble, son of Gil Noble. “He knew that what we know about our history and ourselves influences how we think about ourselves and others, and also affects what we can accomplish in our lives. For over four decades, my father was committed to research, writing, teaching and producing programs and documentaries on “Like it Is” to tell the truth about our history and culture. He told me on many occasions that “misinformation is a weapon of mass destruction”, so he used his platform to give us the truth and considered “Like it Is” a doorway to information and knowledge. I am very happy that two black-owned breweries have decided to honor his legacy with the Noble Like It Is beer.”
This brew is one of three new releases that are included in Montclair Brewery’s Black History Month Series. The brewery is also adding a Boseman Wild Ale, which is brewed with juniper berries, to honor Chadwick Boseman. Boseman is a famous African American actor who is most known for his starring role in The Black Panther. This brew will be available towards the middle of February. Another new addition is their Black is Beautiful Stout with Peanut Butter. This is a new twist on their version of the Black is Beautiful brew. Peanut butter was selected as a homage to George Washington Carver, the African American agricultural scientist and inventor. He is often referred to as the “peanut man” for developing more than 300 food, industrial and commercial products from peanuts. This beer will be available on draft and in 16 oz growlers.


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In July 2022 the Interisle Consulting Group published their annual study on the prevalence of phishing attacks. Interisle, a private consulting firm consisting of industry experts, some of which have held positions at ICANN, analysed over three million phishing reports from 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 from multiple intelligence providers, but also took into account data from 2020 to create an biennial overview of phishing attacks – fraudulent practices of sending emails or setting up websites purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce internet users to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
The study examines phishing attacks across various top-level domains, as well as among different registrars and hosting providers. It also reports on brands most targeted by phishers, the role of subdomain resellers in phishing, and how phishers have added cryptocurrencies to their financial fraud target lists.
The study maintains that phishing remains a profitable and expanding industry, with the number of phishing attacks reported each month doubling since 2020. The trendline shows a 52% growth in phishing attacks over the 24-month period, and a 61% increase in phishing attacks from 2021. According to the study, the number of maliciously registered domain names that are purposely registered by a phisher to perpetrate a phishing attack increased by 82% since 2021.
Though these numbers, if correct, are concerning, the study also finds wide differences among individual sectors and service providers. According to the authors of the study only 34% of all domains reported for phishing were in .com and .net, whose combined market share is 48% of all TLDs, whereas new gTLDs (like .shop, .club, .info, etc.) were used disproportionately often for phishing. 36% of domains used for phishing were in ccTLDs, which is roughly in line with the 39% of the domain name market share represented by ccTLDs. However, the study does elaborate, that phishing in the ccTLD category is artificially swollen by phishing domains reported in five commercialized ccTLDs run by the domain provider Freenom (.tk, .ml, .ga, .cf, .gq), which offers free domain name registrations, whereas the other ccTLDs suffer far less phishing than might be expected based on market share (according to the study roughly 22%). An earlier study on DNS abuse, commissioned by the European Commission, found that European ccTLDs are by far the least abused, relative to their overall market share, as only 0.8% of all abused domain names were registered under EU ccTLDs.
The results of both studies show clearly, that the European ccTLD landscape is by far the healthiest sector among top-level domains with regard to DNS abuse practices (such as phishing, spamming, malware, CSAM, botnets, etc.). Even though these results are reassuring and indicate, that European service providers offering ccTLD registrations have established good practices in maintaining a safe domain environment, these findings are not properly reflected in the recommendations of either of the studies.
Both studies suggest that registries and registrars across the board should monitor, identify, block or suspend domains reported for DNS abuse, as they are “in an excellent position” to do so. They also possess key information – contact data and billing data, which is highly useful to identify malicious customers, and have terms of service that allow them to suspend domains for illegal activity. Both studies also claim that obliging operators to validate the identity of users, coupled with providing lawful access to dedicated access seekers could reduce DNS abuse, even though there is hardly any data clearly showing that user identity validation contributes to reduced cybercrime.
The authors of both studies encourage internet service providers to be more responsive to abuse complaints and promote the role that the private sector plays in combatting cybercrime, seemingly ignoring, that there is as of yet no uniform definition of “cybercrime” or that most private entities lack legal expertise to discern legal from illegal behaviour, thus being forced into overblocking legal content from fear of being held liable for crimes committed by the users of their services.
In their response to the EC DNS Abuse Study the Council of European National Top-Level Domain Registries (CENTR) highlights that the definition of DNS abuse provided by the study is too broad and seems to encompass all current forms of cybercrime, thus being inconsistent with its accompanying explanation that only targets a limited number of technical intermediaries, whereby it disregards the proportionate resolution path targeting the intermediary that is closest to the content. The study also disregards the fundamental difference between the governance of ccTLDs and gTLDs and demonstrates incoherent analysis by adopting a “one-size-fits-all” approach with measures targeted at both ccTLDs and gTLDs despite finding that ccTLDs are by far less abused. As a result, any measures targeted solely at ccTLDs will have a limited impact on effectively reducing abuse online. The study also recommends harmonised Know-Your-Business-Customer practices across ccTLDs, despite the lack of proof of abuse.
Both studies will most probably be embraced by national governments, who lack resources and specific knowledge for tackling cybercrime and thus encourage preventive measures taken by the private sector, as well as big right-holders (such as holders of trademarks and copyrights) who are much more successful in enforcing their rights against neutral internet gatekeepers than against individual infringers.


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In a recent survey of over 1,000 small business owners in the United States, 62% reported that their businesses have fully or partially recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the news from Bank of America’s Small Business Owner Report isn’t all rosy. While 64% of small business owners expect to see revenue growth in the next year, 88% say that inflation is putting pressure on their business, and most don’t expect the national economy to recover soon.
Business ownership has gotten harder over the past decade
In the past year, the following economic concerns increased compared to 2021:
Only 31% of business owners surveyed expressed confidence that the national economy will improve in the next 12 months—a drop of nearly 20 percentage points from 2021. Still, says Sharon Miller, BofA’s President of Small Business and Head of Specialty Banking and Lending, small business owners have “remained resilient.”
Digital technology holds promise for small businesses’ futures
Despite the myriad challenges faced by America’s small business owners today, the majority remain optimistic about adapting to an ever-more-competitive landscape. Over the past 12 months, 70% adopted new strategies to do business in digital spaces, such as:
In the decade to come, 44% of business owners surveyed plan to prioritize digital sales—and while word of mouth remains the most powerful marketing tool small businesses have on their side, 53% agree that social media has become one of the most effective marketing strategies.


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| Dec 28, 2013
If you're not boarding a cruise ship, there has been limited appeal to Port Canaveral, despite a restaurant row that offers a view of ocean liners and rocket launches from nearby Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.
With the loss of the space...
| Jan 23, 2014
| 12:29 PM
Carnival Cruise Lines is following the gameplan that theme parks have mastered, offering up big-name musical acts to drum up business.
The Carnival Live Concert Series was announced Thursday with acts such as Jennifer Hudson, Jewel, Lady Antebellum and...
| Mar 11, 2014
| 1:01 PM
Mickey's playing it not once, but twice for old time's sake as Turner Classic Movies has decided to stay with Disney Cruise Line's for this year's Classic Cruise.
The cruise slated for Oct. 21-26 will sail on the Disney Magic from Port Canaveral with...
| Nov 8, 2013
| 4:44 AM
MIAMI - Just a few years ago, if you wanted to take a short cruise, you didn't have many choices of ships or destinations.
However, the trend now is for people to take shorter vacations of all kinds - by land, sea or air - or to combine a short land...
| Feb 26, 2014
| 10:04 AM
Carnival's got another bundle of joy in the oven. This one will be No. 25.
The first steel for the Carnival Vista was cut last week at Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, for the vessel that's due in 2016. It will be the first new ship from...
| Mar 10, 2014
| 10:22 AM
Disney Cruise Line is basking in the reinvigorated Disney Magic, which made its big face-lift reveal last fall with a splash in Port Miami before migrating to Port Canaveral in January.
Debuting in 1998, the oldest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet...
| Jan 6, 2014
| 4:52 AM
For the first time ever Disney Cruise Line is sailing three ships out of Port Canaveral, marking the beginning of a year of expansion for the cruise industry in Central Florida.
The line repositioned the recently refurbished Disney Magic, which had been...
| Oct 28, 2013
| 9:51 AM
Disney Cruise Line’s first ship, the Disney Magic, relaunched Oct. 25 after undergoing a massive overhaul that included new spaces and characters, most notably Marvel’s Avengers, and re-imagined areas for all ages.
“Each of our ships...
| Mar 12, 2014
| 12:44 PM
MIAMI BEACH - While the big news from Norwegian Cruise Line today was about the homeport for the new Norwegian Escape and the reveal of its hull art by Guy Harvey, buried in the lead was the line's reveal of which of its older ships will be headed to Port...
| Oct 9, 2013
| 9:19 AM
Arguably, it's the most wonderful time of the year to take a cruise: the holiday season. Ships are decorated to the nines (so you don’t have to struggle with tangled up knots of Christmas lights), festive feasts are prepared and served (so you can...
| Oct 21, 2013
| 7:34 AM
The Disney Magic has gone under the knife and is on its way to Miami. The re-imagined cruise ship spent four weeks at the Navantia Shipyards in Cadiz, Spain and is set to show off its new gams so to speak at its winter home of PortMiami before...


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Holy Grail of fashion finally discovered?
A long lost skirt belonging to Queen Elizabeth I was found in a Herefordshire church. It had been cut up and used as an altar cloth.
It’s believed to be the only surviving piece of clothing from Queen Elizabeth I’s wardrobe.
The Telegraph has the story:
A piece of fabric described as the Holy Grail of fashion history will become one of the star attractions at Hampton Court Palace after it was identified as the only surviving piece of clothing worn by Elizabeth I.
The country’s leading experts on royal garments have spent the past year piecing together clues about the provenance of the beautifully embroidered textile, which had been cut up and used for hundreds of years as an altar cloth in a Herefordshire parish church.
They say all the evidence points to it having once been a skirt worn by the Tudor queen, making it the only known survivor of her famously lavish wardrobe.
She said: “When I saw it for the first time I knew immediately that it was something special. As I examined it, I felt as though I had found the Holy Grail, the Mona Lisa of fashion. None of Elizabeth I’s dresses are known to have survived, but everything we have learnt since then points to it being worn by Elizabeth.”
The botanical pattern on the cloth bears a striking resemblance to that on a bodice worn by Elizabeth in the so-called Rainbow Portrait of 1602 and Ms Lynn believes it is “not inconceivable” that the skirt, which cannot be seen in the painting, is part of the same outfit.
The entire post is well worth a read.
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British internet users consider their homes among the safest places in terms of cybersecurity. According to a survey conducted by NordVPN, only 1 out of 6 Brits think that their devices are exposed to cyberthreats when connected to a home network. Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts say this is a deceptive peace that could lead to serious privacy issues.
“While it is natural for people to feel safer at home than in public places, in terms of cybersecurity, your home is as vulnerable as any other place. A deceptive peace and lack of protective measures lead to serious cybersecurity issues that could affect the private life and security of all household members,” says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.
Home Wi-Fi connection is as vulnerable as a public one
Most internet users are perfectly aware of the potential cyberthreats of public Wi-Fi, but a wireless internet connection at home could also be infected or hacked. Even though home Wi-Fi has a lower risk of being infected than public Wi-Fi due to fewer users, the reckless actions of every family member can cause cybersecurity issues for the household.
“The connection between a router and a device is like a two-way bridge: sophisticated malware from an infected device can spread to the Wi-Fi router and infect other devices connected to the home network. It can also stay in the router and collect data from any other device in the network or change router settings and redirect users to malicious websites. So one infected device can cause security issues for all the network,” Briedis says.
Cybersecurity expert Briedis advises taking a few simple measures that will increase the resilience of your home Wi-Fi network without additional investment or significant efforts. For example, to change the default router login credentials, constantly update the router’s firmware, set a strong Wi-Fi password, disable remote management of the router, enable network firewalls, and other measures.
Your home can become your biggest traitor
While the router is the central device in the home Wi-Fi system, smart TVs are among the primary targets for cybercriminals since nearly 57% of households have smart TVs. In addition, depending
on the aim of the intruders, a hacked smart TV could be used for several types of cybercrimes: from cyberstalking the owners with built-in microphones or cameras to stealing personal credentials used to log in to apps on the smart TV and selling them on the dark web.
Cybersecurity risks rise with a growing interest in so-called do-it-yourself (DIY) home security systems. For most households, this is the most affordable yet sufficient solution. Still, the primary concern is whether all users can set up the system in a way that would protect not only their households but also their privacy and cybersecurity.
“Ironically, without proper setup, home security systems with video cameras and sensors all around the home could serve not the household’s security but criminals. Sometimes, they blackmail families for not making videos of their personal lives public. On other occasions, doorbells, backyard, or even cameras inside the home become a tool for burglars to know if it is safe to get in and rob the house,” Briedis says.
Hackers can turn our fortress into a cave
Smart home systems can enhance convenience, but every device connected to your home’s Internet of Things is an additional door to your home for cybercriminals. Even if a hacked light bulb might not sound terrible, it could become the gates to your computer credentials, banking, or other sensitive information. Moreover, in a device hijacking scenario, an attacker gains control over a smart device, which might put your privacy or even your well-being at risk.
“It wouldn’t be fair to claim that smart home devices are safe or unsafe. Smart home safety and security depend on the devices’ selection, configuration, and network security. If you lay the proper groundwork for your smart home, you can enjoy its benefits without risking your privacy,” Briedis says.
To protect their smart home, homeowners should, first, research devices before buying them to make sure they purchase reputable products with reliable security features, keep their software up to date, set unique and strong passwords for their home devices, and use trustworthy security software, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.
Second, it is crucial to secure a home network. While it is still rarely used, one thing that could improve the cybersecurity of all home IoTs is setting up a virtual private network (VPN) service on the router. Once a VPN is set up on a router, all connected devices will be granted the benefits of VPN protection. This means that the user’s activity will be hidden from anyone trying to spy, whether it’s cybercriminals or data-hoarding corporations.


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America has among the highest corporate income taxes in the world and a growing number of domestic firms are merging with foreign companies in order to reduce their tax burdens.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the race among companies to sidestep U.S. taxes reached a fever pitch as two drug firms, Illinois-based Abbvie and Pennsylvania-based Mylan Inc., unveiled foreign mergers that will all them to slash their tax rates. The tie ups represent the latest in the growing craze for so-called inversions, which occur when an American company purchases a foreign target and adopts its lower tax rate or establishes a holding company in a nation with a low tax rate.
For a time, these deals were mostly in the pharmaceutical industry, but are now becoming more apparent in retail and manufacturing segments. Since the beginning of 2013, 19 inversion deals have been announced, with 14 coming this year alone. These tax friendly corporate moves result in a domino effect, with executives in other companies worried about being left behind. The deals can shave hundreds of millions of dollars from corporate tax bills primarily by shielding money earned in other countries from the reach of the U.S. treasury.


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Business Ins & Outs Dec. 20, 2017
By December 20, 2017 0 310•
By Robert Devaney and Selma Khenissi
In: Holiday Pop-Up Shop
A big sign at 1661 1⁄2 Wisconsin Ave. NW shouts out: “HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOP.” A closer inspection shows something more specific: the Pink House Pop-Up Shop. You can expect the smell of Christmas in the air, literally, while looking for gifts for loved ones. This temporary shop sells mostly jewelry, with many items priced under $100. One can also find accessories and items to wear during the winter. The store will be open until Dec. 23.
In: Paradiso Game Room
What’s old is new again. Pizzeria Paradiso’s basement beer bar Birreria Paradiso is becoming a game room next month — complete with darts, pinball and video games. Serious beer drinking will move up to the ground floor at 3282 M St. NW.
Correction: Camper Is Open
The Nov. 22 issue of The Georgetowner erroneously reported that Camper had closed. The classic, contemporary shoe store from Spain at 3219 M St. NW is open. It had merely closed temporarily for renovations. The Georgetowner regrets the error.
Out: Unum Exits the Pluribus on M Street
Georgetown’s hip, high-end and eclectic “Cheers” restaurant at 2917 M St. NW served its last meal Saturday, Dec. 16. For six years, helmed by chef Phillip Blane, who arrived from Equinox and points beyond, Unum lived up to its name and gastronomical ambitions.
“After six wonderful years it is time to say last call at Unum,” wrote Blane and co- owner Laura Schiller, his wife. “There are no words to express the gratitude and overwhelming sense of pride we have in our little restaurant and for the many fantastic people who made it all happen. But it was our customers, particularly our neighbors, who helped create our special community whom we will miss most. If any of you are wondering, you can say ‘congratulations’ and not ‘I’m sorry’ for the events which recently transpired that have led to this day.”
Named for the United States’ motto, “E pluribus unum” (Latin for “out of many, one”), the restaurant reflected what Blane said he liked about the phrase: its affirmation of America’s melting-pot culture.
Having taken over the spot of Mendocino Grille, Unum will be replaced by a restaurant owned by business interests from Dubai, according to those familiar with the situation. Blane would not say what lies ahead for him, but Schiller is expected to keep her day job as chief of staff for Sen. Barbara Boxer, Democrat from California.
Out: Daily Grill at Georgetown Inn
The Daily Grill restaurant at the Georgetown Inn at 1310 Wisconsin Ave. NW closed Sunday, Dec. 17 — abruptly posting on social media: “Thank you to all our loyal guests and the Georgetown community for your support for 18 great years.” A national chain, the Daily Grill has other nearby locations at 18th and M Streets NW and in Bethesda, Maryland.
Out: Bruegger’s Bagels in Glover Park
Bruegger’s Bagels at 2334 Wisconsin Ave. NW closed last week. While sometimes suffering from slow service, the eatery baked some pretty good bagels for D.C., even some lovers of New York City bagels admitted. The business came to Glover Park in 2009.
Leaving in ’18: Morton’s the Steakhouse
According to the property owner of the complex, Georgetown Court at 3251 Prospect St. NW, as well as a real estate agency, Morton’s, the upscale steak restaurant, will depart its Georgetown location during the first half of next year. Morton’s has been on Prospect Street for almost 30 years. Connor McCarthy of Miller Walker Retail Real Estate said the 7,000-square-foot retail-restaurant space will be available in the spring of 2018. At press time, Morton’s had not responded to inquiries from The Georgetowner.


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Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., has officially presented the new Satellite Radius 11 2-in-1 convertible PC, designed for price conscious customers. One of the main... Read more
We knew it was coming for weeks but it’s now here – at an event scheduled for October 16, Apple has presented a number of new devices including iPad Air 2, iPad mini and a 27-inch iMac with Retina display.
The iPad Air 2 is the first... Read more
After many months of rumors and expectations and just a day after the debut of the powerful Nexus 6 smartphone Google has launched the Android L operating system that is now known as Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The new version of the popular... Read more
Most digital devices that you see and buy nowadays have been developed by numerous engineers but this is not the case with Lenovo’s newest Yoga Tablet 2 Pro device simply because one celebrity also took part in the development. In case you... Read more
HP has launched a new line of budget-oriented notebooks and tablets that goes under the Stream brand name. The line includes two new notebooks PCs and two new tablets, designed for work and play anywhere as well as for cloud services and the... Read more
Huawei has presented a new 8-inch tablet that is capable of making phone calls. The new device is called Honor Tablet and sports a thin and light metallic chassis (7.9 mm/360 grams).
The Honor Tablet has a 1.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm... Read more
ARM has presented a new company product and this time it is the Cortex-M7 processor, designed for use in various microcontrollers. The new chip doubles the performance compared to its predecessor in both calculations and digital signal... Read more
Despite the emergence of numerous tablets on the market in the past few months we haven’t heard anything from Amazon. Well, this is no longer the case as the company is back with a vengeance launching no less than five different tablets.
September 2014 will surely remain in Apple’s history as a great time period – the company first launched the iPhone 6 and now it has released the all-new iOS 8 operating system.
We’ll go straight to the operating system – iOS 8 arrives... Read more
Intel’s new Core M processor was widely publicized this past week as the first Broadwell chip and as a processor that offers great performance for tablets and mobile computers while needing very little energy. All is good but we haven’t had... Read more
If you are a fan of the Taiwanese brand Acer then you should know that the company will release a new tablet, known as Iconia Tab 8 W in November of this year. The device will belong to the budget market segment, but this is not always a bad... Read more


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Pine Street recently got an exciting retail addition when UNIQLO opened its first store in downtown Seattle in the former Macy's space. The company now has more than 2,300 stores around the globe, including 44 stores in the U.S.
Their first store opened in Hiroshima in 1984. Since then, UNIQLO's apparel has been anchored in the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity, while philanthropy continues to be an overarching focus.
"Our mission at UNIQLO is to make everyday life better through clothing," says Jean Shein, UNIQLO Global Director of Sustainability. "UNIQLO is a brand that is made for all, truly. We do not chase trends, but rather offer products that are designed with life’s everyday needs in mind. We call this LifeWear. Our apparel is high-quality clothing that is made to last, that we are constantly improving and perfecting, at an accessible price point."
The team chose downtown Seattle as its latest location after getting to know the community through two existing regional stores — one in Bellevue Square and another at Southcenter. Shein adds, "Our apparel is made with functionality in mind that serve the lifestyles and needs of the Pacific Northwest well – products like HEATTECH which keeps you warm without heavy layers – or Ultra Light Down jackets which pack neatly into a bag to take anywhere."
The Pine Street outpost offers all of the brand’s iconic products for men, women and children, including their windproof fleeces, knits, t-shirts and BlueCycle jeans — made using only a teacup’s worth of water, which is up to 99% less than in the standard jeans finishing process.
The latest PNW launch coincided with a cold-weather donation collaboration with the Seattle DESC (Department of Emergency Services) — an extension of the work UNIQLO has done with homeless communities throughout the country — and as part of their RE.UNIQLO program, a clothing circularity program.
"When UNIQLO opens a new store," Shein says, "it’s important for us to introduce ourselves to the local community and help where we can. Apart from a donation of cold weather products, the UNIQLO Pine Street store staff also spent a day volunteering with the DESC, creating holiday greeting cards for their permanent residents."
In addition to serving local communities (like the 1,000 units of cold-weather clothing distributed in the Seattle area), through RE.UNIQLO, the brand routinely delivers clothing to people in need around the globe. Customers can donate their gently-worn clothing back to local stores so that UNIQLO can give items to those who need it most — including at refugee camps and disaster areas along with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), NGOs and NPOs.
Last year, they launched their first RE.UNIQLO Repair Studio in New York, meaning customers can come in to get minor repairs for their well-loved UNIQLO items. And through their RE.UNIQLO down recycling program (thanks to jackets donated by customers), they've also been able to develop brand-new jackets made from 100% recycled down.
For extra-convenient service, the Seattle store offers its 'buy-online, pickup-in-store' service, as well as complimentary alterations. For any pair of pants $20 or above (excluding athletic wear and sweatpants), UNIQLO provides free pant-length hemming services to fit customers’ unique measurements.
The most recent product launch, UNIQLO PEACE FOR ALL, is a T-shirt collection through which all profits are donated to three international aid organizations: United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees, Save the Children and Plan International. UNIQLO launched this ongoing charity project in June of 2022 with a mission to help promote peace and alleviate suffering.
"With this project, in particular," Shein says, "we focused on T-shirts, inviting collaborators from around the world who support the project’s aim to design unique T-shirt designs." Collaborators range from designers and athletes to artists.
As of September, Shein says more than 484,000 T-shirts have sold, raising more than $1 million. So far, 20 collaborators have supported the project, with the latest launch on December 15.
"And, in addition to donating all profits from sales of the PFA shirts," Shein says, "during this holiday season, we have set up a donation system at check-out so that our customers can also participate directly in the PFA project by making small donation at the end of their transactions. All of this donation will be matched by UNIQLO USA up to $75,000."
Learn more about UNIQLO here.
Corinne Whiting is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. Follow her work and adventures here.


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GOLFZON will conduct a Closest to the Pin contest and display its new ARCADE Software for alternative game play among other capabilities for its world-renowned golf simulator during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Show in Las Vegas, NV, Jan. 9-12, 2018. GOLFZON is the only golf simulator company scheduled to be on site and will be located at Sands, Halls A-D, Booth No. 44322 in the Sports Zone, adjacent to Turner Broadcasting.
The CES Show, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, is a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow that takes place every January in Las Vegas. The event drew 184,000 attendees and 4,000 exhibitors in 2017 and expects a similar or greater turnout during the second week of 2018.
The Closest to the Pin contest will be held daily from 2-3 p.m., with awards given out at 2:30 p.m. Approach shots on the short, par-3 seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links will be used with each participant getting two shots. All participants will receive two GOLFZON-branded Titleist golf balls and each daily winner will receive an Apple iPad Pro.
Additionally, GOLFZON will have its ARCADE software available for play, presenting golf games such as darts and block golf for alternative ways to enjoy the sport. Videos for Strikezon, GOLFZON’s simulated baseball game, and GolfWith, the company’s golf GPS system, will be shown. GOLFZON’s new Radar Sensor, called “DrivingTalk,” used for measuring various statistics when practicing outdoors on a driving range, will also be on display at the booth.
“GOLFZON recognizes that consumers are interested in the latest in technological advances, therefore the CES Show in Las Vegas is the perfect place for us to show our simulators to those who are interested in golf and other developments,” said Tommy Lim, CEO of GOLFZON America. “Simulator golf has been instrumental in increasing the number of people who are being introduced to golf in the United States. Additionally, home entertainment and in a bar/restaurant atmosphere are displaying more cutting-edge technology. Products, like our new ARCADE software, show the capability of our simulators.”
GOLFZON began the first GOLFZON America Simulator Championship in mid-December at affiliated stores around the United States, Canada and Mexico. Winners will be determined in eight categories, with the final results scheduled for Sunday, January 14, 2018.
GOLFZON will have a large presence at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 23-26, with a first-ever appearance at Demo Day on Tuesday, Jan. 23 and two simulators at its Booth No. 3251 on the Orange County Convention Center show floor Wednesday-Friday Jan. 24-26.


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Give us your used golf clubs, your old laptops, your baseball cards tucked inside a shoebox.
If it's worth at least $25 and could fetch a buyer on eBay, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York would like to have it.
The food bank is launching a new fund-raiser, Auction Off Hunger, that relies on the popular Internet auction site to generate interest. Beginning Oct. 17, donors can drop off used items at the food bank's headquarters at 965 Albany-Shaker Rd. in Latham.
The items will be cataloged and listed on eBay's charity site, Giving Works. Bidding will be conducted Dec. 1 to Dec. 8. The food bank will get a check from eBay for the total amount of money raised.
More than 5,500 charities are registered to raise money on eBay, with more than $35 million raised since its inception.
Donors can also list the items themselves on eBay and donate 10 percent or all of the sale price to the food bank.
The food bank is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides food to more than 1,000 charitable agencies in 23 counties in upstate New York.
A complimentary reception to celebrate the new fund-raising drive will be held at the food bank on Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. For more information or to RSVP by Oct. 12, contact Tracey Martin at 786-3691, ext. 227.


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Black Screen Records have released the soundtrack to A Plague Tale: Innocence on vinyl.
The release is a 2LP on clear vinyl with black swirl. It is housed in a gatefold jacket with art by Damien Papet & Olivier Ponsonnet. Additionally, it also includes a 12″ art print, a rat enamel pin, and a digital download for the full 38-track soundtrack.
Preorders opened on June 26, 2019 and it released August, 2019.


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Many people felt Apple was being unreasonable when the company refused to give the FBI access to one of the San Bernardino shooters' iPhones in February; Apple claimed such disregard for customer privacy would set a bad, dangerous precedent (despite the fact that it had unlocked iPhones 70 times prior to this incident).
The public did not see it the same way and the backlash was swift—a Pew Research poll found that 51 percent of people believed Apple needed to comply with FBI demands and unlock the iPhone.
A new Supreme Court ruling has further exacerbated Apple’s PR problem—the Court “rejected an appeal filed by Apple to overturn a stinging ruling that it led a broad conspiracy with several major publishers to fix the price of e-books sold through its online bookstore,” according to Mashable.
This means Apple will be forced to pay “$400 million to consumers and an additional $50 million in legal fees.”
Apple generates $79.5 billion in sales each year, so the actual monetary value of this payout is not the issue—the problem lies in the way customers will view this brand that prides itself on being extremely consumer-friendly.
The ruling looks pretty terrible for Apple. Apparently, the company (when Steve Jobs was leading it in 2009) conspired with the top five publishing companies to fix e-book prices, rejecting Amazon’s model of a flat rate of $9.99 per e-book—“ Jobs personally persuaded publishing industry executives to re-think the flat $9.99 e-book pricing previously imposed by Amazon, then (and now) the giant of the e-book world.”
“While some in the publishing industry argued this move helped break up Amazon's potential monopoly on the market, the U.S. government accused Apple and the five publishers of colluding to keep prices high,” Mashable notes. Amazon ultimately changed the way it priced books, too, thanks to Apple, and perhaps not for the better.
Apple maintains there was no wrongdoing in its price-fixing, yet the Supreme Court—and the public—see otherwise. Their growing PR problem does not appear to have a solution anytime soon.
Banner Image Credit: Twitter, @CFR


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The Jakarta Post
Some 100 food and beverage (F&B) companies from the 10 ASEAN member countries are taking part in the ongoing 2017 ASEAN Trade Fair, themed "Taste the Happiness", held from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28 in Seoul.
The fair, which is running in conjunction with the largest international food fair in Korea, Food Week Korea, was opened by ASEAN-Korea Center secretary-general Kim Young-sun and witnessed by ASEAN's country ambassadors.
The Indonesian Embassy in Korea's commercial attaché, Aksamil Khair, said on Thursday in Seoul that South Korea was a potential market for Indonesian food products, with its 50 million population and US$30,000 income per capita.
He said, however, that the country set a high import tariff on particular agriculture products, although tax incentives were given to several certificate of origin (COO) products according to ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) signed in 2009.
“But not all Indonesian F&B exporters are aware of this,” Aksamil added.
He also said that Vietnam and Singapore had aleady signed an FTA in bilateral talks with the Korean government, which made their products highly competitive in Korea.
Meanwhile, Indonesian processed food exports to Korea remained low compared to several other ASEAN countries, exporting $111 million in processed food products to Korea in 2016.
Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines was the top processed food exporter to Korea last year with $476 million, followed by Thailand with $399 million, Vietnam with $312 million and Malaysia with $132 million. (bbn)


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A 13,000-square-foot home on “Billionaires Row” in Summerlin has set the high price in 2021 at $9.6 million, and at least two more homes on the seven-home block are expected to sell in the coming days and weeks and shatter that mark.
The transactions continue the high level of activity in the luxury segment of homes of $1 million or more. A new report said Las Vegas has blown away its December record of 131 sales of single-family homes and high-rises of $1 million and above with 170 such sales in March. A trend of sales and price escalations shows no signs of slowing, according to Forrest Barbee, a corporate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona, California, Nevada Properties.
In another report, Realtor Rob Jensen, CEO of the Rob Jensen Co., said the ultra-luxury market has been especially strong during the first quarter of 2021 with 40 sales of more than $2 million, compared with 14 during the first three months 2020.
There were 16 sales of $2 million to $3 million and 24 sales of $4 million and above. That compares with nine sales between $2 million and $3 million during the first quarter of 2020. There were only five sales of more than $4 million, Jensen said.
The latest ultra-luxury sale closed April 2 at 1701 Enclave Court in the exclusive Country Club Hills. The property belonged to Jerry Herbst, the founder of Terrible Herbst gas stations, who died in 2018.
Clark County records show the new ownership under Brett C. White Trust and Mark Kirkish as a trustee. White is an executive with Rite-Hite, a Milwaukee-headquartered company that manufactures loading dock equipment, industrial doors, safety barriers, industrial fans and other products. Mike White is listed as the owner, and Kirkish is listed as the chief financial officer.
Enclave Court is next to TPC Summerlin golf course, which hosts an annual PGA Tour event, and is known for its wealthy homeowners over the years, including magician David Copperfield, former Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn, former gaming executive Barry Shier, the Fertitta and Herbst families. Wynn had listed his home for $25 million but has taken it off the market, according to Realtor Ivan Sher of the Ivan Sher Group with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties.
“It’s not publicly on the market right now, but he would consider selling it at the right price,” Sher said. “We’ve had some great offers, but he wasn’t ready at the time.”
The previous most expensive sale of 2021 was for $8.25 million at 23 Hawk Ridge Drive in The Ridges in Summerlin. The two-story, five-bedroom home with a seven-car garage measures 10,933 square feet. The sale closed Feb. 10 with Sher at the listing agent.
The record set in 2020 was $14.5 million for a 14,464 square-foot home on 1.65 in The Ridges in Summerlin. The buyer wasn’t disclosed but listed in county records as LV Raiders LLC. Sher’s group represented the buyer and seller in that transaction and appears ready to set more records in 2021.
Sher said Wednesday he has a home on Enclave Court in which the sale is pending for $12.85 million. He said he has another Enclave Court home that is expected to go under contract soon for an even higher price.
1701 Enclave Court
So, the current record holder until Sher officially closes on his home is Realtor Don Kuhl with Synergy Sotheby’s International. Kristen Routh Silberman of Synergy Sotheby’s was the buyer’s agent. The home measures 13,349 square feet with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms on more than 2 acres along TPC Summerlin.
The listing described the home as inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater design and “perfect for entertaining guests and family.” It has more than 2,200 tons of ledge stone.
Waterfalls and gardens run throughout the property. The home has vaulted-box, exposed-beam ceilings with recessed lighting. It has a pool and four-car garage.
Kuhl and Routh-Silberman said a nondisclosure agreement with the buyer and seller prevents them from saying much about the transaction.
“It’s a signature home in the Enclave,” Kuhl said. “The seven homes that are in there are quite significant in a significant area. It is a great unique home. It’s a lush and lavish home. With that backyard and lot, it doesn’t feel like Vegas by any means. It’s an oasis.”
Kuhl said the luxury market shows no signs of slowing with people relocating to Nevada from outside the state. People are clamoring to buy existing luxury homes and buy lots to build new ones, he said.
“We’re in a whole different realm these days,” Kuhl said. “Our migration has expanded so greatly. It used to be Southern California was our bread and butter, but now we got people from Washington state and Northern California and Chicago. These are things we haven’t seen, and they are all looking at us. We’re like the last bastion of state income tax haven. And our quality of life relative to the price is tremendous.”
Kuhl said he’s worried about a lack of inventory of new and existing luxury homes for the buyers coming to the marketplace.
“We’re going to have this gap, and it’s a real problem,” Kuhl said. “This is happening, and we need to lay the groundwork for this next phase of continuous growth. We’re now at the big-boy table. We have pro sports. We need to demonstrate we can handle it.”
Routh-Silberman said anything that is new and modern is being gobbled up by buyers and agreed with Kuhl that the market is going to need to step up to fill the supply.
“We could keep this going, but we need more inventory,” Routh-Silberman said.
The Richard Luke Collection of 10 homes for 2021 in MacDonald Highlands has sold out, Routh-Silberman said.
“We have to find new lots and build more houses,” said Routh-Silberman, the broker for MacDonald Highlands. “People are coming in who want beautiful grounds and beautiful estates.”
Luxury builder Blue Heron’s MacDonald Highlands project of seven homes, called the first phase of Equinox, has sold out, and a second phase of seven custom homes is being built and placed on the market. They will range from $5 million to $12.8 million.
Blue Heron is doing another project, called Dragon Rock, at MacDonald Highlands of semi-custom homes. It will have 50 homes with prices from $1.5 million to $3.5 million. Some 15 lots have been sold.
Routh-Silberman said there has been a lot of interest in MacDonald Highlands from athletes, singers and other celebrities.
Overall, Jensen said there were 333 sales of single-family homes of $1 million and higher compared with 133 sales in the first quarter of 2020. COVID-19 had the biggest impact on the real estate market in the second quarter.
Barbee said it’s amazing how the luxury market continues to explode in the past nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic. The closing numbers were stuck below 100, which were in record territory for many months, before skyrocketing to as high as 170 in March.
“We’re seeing that in every market in Southern California and Phoenix,” Barbee said. “There’s people that feel their money will do better for them in real estate than the stock market despite the stock market is going well. You’re seeing some of that. People might be concerned the next step Congress could take with capital gains taxes and getting ahead of it by getting into real estate.”
In Las Vegas, Barbee said 7 percent of the homes sold in March were for $700,000 and above compared with 4 percent in March 2019 before the pandemic. That 7 percent makes up 23 percent of the volume of money involved in transactions, he said. In 2019, the volume of money was 12 percent.
Prices continue to escalate with prices up 11 percent in 2020 and already up 12 percent through the first quarter, Barbee said.
In 2019, the median price of luxury homes sold for the year was $1.37 million. For 2021, the median is $1.52 million, Barbee said.
“It’s not that long ago that there were two to three years of inventory of luxury homes,” Barbee said. “They had to be priced competitively because there were fewer buyers and the homes were old and were competing with new homes. Now that the buyers are there, we are down to three months of inventory. The luxury market has transformed itself where sellers have a negotiating advantage.”
Barbee said the luxury market appears to continue being driven by the mindset of people that because they don’t need to be in an office every day and work from home, they can live where they want.
“There’s this sense of freedom that they’re not tied geographically to their job,” Barbee said.
Jensen said that the luxury numbers are amazing and that high demand is continuing even with a low supply.
“There’s a two-month supply of inventory up to $2.5 million, and when you go to $2.5 million to $3 million, there’s barely a three-month supply,” Jensen said. “I have three clients coming in this weekend looking to spend $4 million to $7 million, and there’s not a lot to show them.”


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Library Event Survey Unlocks Hidden Marketing Value for Publishers and Authors
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Report Offers Insights to Measuring Full Value of Library Lending
BRIEF: The Panorama Project has released a new report on the results of its recent Public Library Events & Book Sales Survey. The full report offers key findings and critical takeaways to help measure and analyze the full impact of library marketing and events.
(New York, NY - April 21, 2020) — The Panorama Project has released a new report on the results of its recent Public Library Events & Book Sales Survey. The full report offers key findings and critical takeaways to help measure and analyze the full impact of library marketing and events.
"Every year, public libraries across the United States produce and host thousands of readings, literary festivals, book clubs, and other experiential events that directly connect local readers to books and authors," said Panorama Project lead, Guy LeCharles Gonzalez. "Unfortunately, the full value of those events hasn’t usually been terribly transparent to the overall publishing industry, while the current public health crisis has demonstrated how important such events are to book discovery and sales."
Surveying nearly 200 public librarians in 30 states who produced book-related events and programming in 2019, more than 90% of respondents said they worked directly with authors rather than publishers. Local authors were far more likely to be featured at library events than those on tour, and all authors were more likely to bring their own books to sell at a library event. For bestselling authors, librarians will often order books through a local New York Times-reporting bookseller partner.
"For a variety of reasons, relatively few librarians work directly with publishers when booking authors for most of their events," noted Gonzalez, "suggesting most publishers—and the industry in general—are unaware of those events' direct commercial impact, never mind the full impact of their multi-channel marketing efforts."
Download the complete press release, along with a copy of the report, here. For more information on the report and/or Panorama Project, please contact:
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez
Project Lead, Panorama Project


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The Company Lab is showcasing two complementary pitch competitions during the third week of October, when Startup Week CHA typically takes place.
Will This Float?, presented by Double Cola, will focus on idea-to-early-stage businesses, and Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union’s Idea Leap rewards early stage companies that are looking to accelerate their growth.
“As CO.LAB takes a season off from Startup Week CHA and how it’s been done traditionally, we wanted to refocus on a couple of really important and impactful events,” CO.LAB CEO Tasia Malakasis said. “We’ve created opportunities for young entrepreneurs this year, adding even more value.”
Double Cola + Will This Float?
This year, The Double Cola Co. is observing 100 years in business, and its centennial celebration culminates at the Will This Float? pitch competition, which will take place on Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
This pitch event, which will focus on consumer packaged goods, is a chance for entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of business to “float” their ideas to local judges and an audience.
There will be two pitch opportunities — one for adult founders and another for students.
“Innovation has long been one of the hallmarks of the Chattanooga ethos,” Double Cola CEO Alnoor Dhanani said. “It is something we identify with, and it is an integral part of who we are. That’s why we are so proud to back CO.LAB and Will This Float."
Founders who win Will This Float? will win a $5,000-prize, quarterly consulting guidance, and free passes to next year’s 3686 Entrepreneurial Festival in Nashville.
Student participants will be awarded with consulting services from local experts, including Malakasis, who scaled and sold artisan goat cheese company Belle Chevre, as well as Double Cola’s top business leaders.
Find more information about Will This Float? here.
TVFCU’s Idea Leap
On Oct. 18, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union will host its annual Idea Leap Grant Pitch Competition which will culminate with five entrepreneurs winning a total of $100,000 in grant funds.
After pitching their business to a panel of local judges, these entrepreneurs will win one of this year’s grants – grand prize: $50,000, first place: $20,000, and three runners-up: $10,000 each – to expand their business and boost growth.
TVFCU received nearly 150 applications and narrowed them down to 23 quarter finalists in July. TVFCU’s panel of community judges is in the process of selecting 10 semifinalists to move to the next stage of the competition.
TVFCU’s Idea Leap Grant is an extension of the credit union’s Idea Leap Loan initiative that was
created in 2016 to support early-stage small businesses.
To date, TVFCU has funded more than $4.2 million in loans to over 175 entrepreneurs through this program. Additionally, TVFCU has awarded nearly $200,000 in Idea Leap Grants to dozens of local businesses since the program’s inception in 2018.
Past winners include The Hot Chocolatier, Hutton & Smith Brewing Company, Chatt Taste Food Tours, Locals Only Gifts & Goods and Mad Priest Coffee Roasters.
“TVFCU has shown tremendous support for the regional small business community through Idea Leap Loans and the annual Idea Leap Grant program,” said Tommy Nix, vice president of business and commercial services. “We’re excited to continually invest in the communities we serve."


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Shopping website Amazon has come under fire for selling offensive hoodies which appear to promote anorexia.
According to the Manchester Evening News the company has been heavily criticised for allowing the item of clothing – which describes the eating disorder as ‘like bulimia, except with self control’ – to feature on its website, with many calling for it to be removed immediately.
The hoodie, which is sold by third party retailer ArturoBuch for $25.88, is available only in the US and cannot be shipped to the UK.
Another hoodie on Amazon Fashion has the tasteless logo: "I have an Easting Disorder - I'm about to eat dis order of fries, dis order of nachos and dis order of wings."
Eating disorder charity B-Eat says trivialising eating disorders in this way can make it harder for people to get help, and urged Amazon to stop sales.
It said: “We are aware the fashion industry can play a big part in how eating disorders are perceived, influencing attitudes, beliefs and actions.
“When eating disorders are glamourised or trivialised like in the case of this hoodie, it can trigger negative behaviours in people who are affected by these complex mental health issues, which can cause serious harm.
“We urge the company responsible to stop making this hoodie, and call on all retailers, including Amazon, to refuse to sell it.
“Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses and their causes are complex. Anyone, regardless of their age, sex or cultural background, can develop an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.
“Over 1.25 million men and women in the UK are affected by eating disorders which can be caused by a variety of factors such as genetic, psychological, environmental, social and biological influences.
“The stigma surrounding eating disorders prevents many people from seeking help, and trivialising them in this way only makes it harder for individuals to get help. We call on all those involved to remove this item from sale immediately.”
Anorexia sufferer Beth Grant called on the company to formally apologise, saying the hoodie could be ‘extremely damaging to anyone suffering with either bulimia or anorexia’.
Speaking on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show she said: “I think it could damage their mental health even further and cause them to potentially harm their life.”
Adding: “You can still see it on the internet. It can still harm them, even if they’re not wearing it.
“I think they should issue a statement saying it is ‘so sorry it’s on our website.”
Mental Health Europe too posted on its Facebook page that it’s messages like that which increase stigma surrounding mental health.
It wrote: “We are extremely shocked by Amazon.com selling a hoodie that describes anorexia as ‘like bulimia, except with self-control’.
“Selling this kind of product is not only stigmatising and irresponsible, but could damage anyone experiencing bulimia or anorexia. There are no jokes to be made about mental ill health, and this kind of message increase #mentalhealth #stigma.
“Anorexia has very severe impacts on mental and physical health, and takes the lives of too many people every year, especially young women.
“Persons living with anorexia and bulimia need support and our society needs awareness.
Amazon declined to comment.
Helplines and websites
Dedicated eating disorder charity B-eat (Beat Eating Disorders) Helpline : 0808 801 0677.
Youthline: 0808 801 0711.
National Centre for Eating Disorders Helpline: 0845 838 2040 eating-disorders.org.uk
SEED (an eating disorder support service) Helpline: 01482 718130.
The Mix Provides essential support for the under 25s. Helpline: 0808 808 4994.
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It doesn’t have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information. http://www.depressionalliance.org/
Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying. http://studentsagainstdepression.org/
The Sanctuary (0300 003 7029) helps people who are struggling to cope - experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks or in crisis. You can call them between 8pm and 6am every day.


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People spent more than £10m in shops, hotels and pubs during the Lincolnshire Show, new research has revealed.
The two-day event saw 60,000 visitors splash out almost £7.5 million at trade stands, including food, drink, clothing, homeware and other specialist services, at the show itself.
But the wider economy was also given a shot in the arm with more than £3.5 million being spent in Lincoln by county showgoers on travel, accommodation and within local facilities including shops, restaurants and tourist spots.
Jayne Southall CEO of Lincolnshire Showground, said: “It’s amazing to see how much the show continues to benefit the local economy.
"Both spending figures equate to a huge amount, which not only benefits businesses exhibiting at the event, but also Lincolnshire’s economy which receives a significant financial injection from the show.
“The £11 million boost reflects how important the event is for Lincolnshire as a whole.
"It is not just a county show, but an event that supports tourism in the local area, provides jobs and promotes the agricultural industry in general - a fundamental part of many people’s lives and businesses in our area.”
The show attracts people from all over the country, who either attend to watch and enjoy the exhibits and displays, or take part and compete within well-respected events, such as livestock, equine and horticultural competitions, to name but a few.
This year’s spending report has been produced by The University of Lincoln as part of a survey carried out with visitors during the show.
The event attracts around 60,000 visitors each year and more than 600 traders display some of the best in local produce and sell everything from handbags to hot tubs, mowers to muck spreaders, and combines to candles.
It is organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, whose charitable objective is to educate about food, farming and a sustainable environment.
The Lincolnshire Show returns in 2018 on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 June.
For more information on tickets, exhibiting, sponsorship opportunities, membership or hospitality packages for next year, visit www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk


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DeWine impressed with Lordstown's new electric truck
Vice President Mike Pence to attend official unveiling tomorrow
LORDSTOWN — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine got a preview of Lordstown Motors’ new electric pickup truck Wednesday and liked what he saw in the vehicle and the once abandoned General Motors facility where it will be built.
“Ohio has always been an auto state, an auto parts state,” he said. “I think this truck really does have an advantage over its competitors.”
DeWine was impressed by how quickly Lordstown Motors, which will formally unveil its Endurance electric-powered pickup truck on Thursday to Vice President Mike Pence, has been able to move into the plant that measures 6.2 million square feet and develop the vehicle.
“This is just absolutely amazing how fast this has happened,” he said. “I know for the people of the Mahoning Valley this does not seem to have happened fast enough, but I know the sales they’ve made to fleets … are just absolutely incredible.”
Steve Burns, chief executive officer of Lordstown Motors, said the plant currently employs about 70 employees and 100 contractors.
“That’s mostly engineers as we convert the plant,” he said. “As we get close to production, we will start to hire line workers and train them how to build electric vehicles.”
Burns said he hopes to exceed GM’s average of 400,000 Chevrolet Cruzes produced a year once the plant is well established.
“This is built for one purpose — volume production of vehicles,” he said. “They did that with 5,000 employees, and that’s probably close to what we’ll be around in the end.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he and DeWine learned of GM’s plans to close the plant shortly after their 2018 election.
Now, he believes Lordstown Motors is positioned to compete well in the electric vehicle market.
“The technical innovation can be a game changer in electrical propulsion,” he said. “For us, the great news is it’s going to happen in Ohio.”
DeWine said he believes the plant will spawn suppliers and other businesses with ties to the plant.
“I think we always underestimate anything having to do with the auto industry,”? he said. “We always underestimate the amount of jobs because the suppliers are always there. The multiplier effect is always huge.”
He also said the former GM facility gives both Lordstown Motors and the state of Ohio a leg up on the competition.
“They’re able to walk into this amazing facility and get moving very, very quickly, and it puts us in Ohio at a great advantage,” he said.
Reporter Bob Gaetjens can be reached at 330-541-9440, firstname.lastname@example.org or @bobgaetjens_rc.


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Windows Mobile 7 Pushed Back Till Late 2010
The Android platform is spreading like wildfire across the mobile phone arena and according to an article over on fierce developer, the gap between Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile platform is widening more and more as the months pass.
Many mobile phone manufacturers have jumped abroad the Android express while software developers shift their efforts towards creating Android applications, and thus the Windows Mobile platform seems to be becoming irrelevant.
Apparently last week analyst Mark Anderson remarked that it is time to declare that Microsoft is a loser in phones, he says phones are consumer items and Microsoft doesn’t have consumer DNA.
During the Connect! Tech summit in London, Phil Moore, Microsoft’s UK head of mobility admitted they are still playing catch-up; when Apple came onto the scene a few years ago it threw away the rule book and reinvented it, and Microsoft doesn’t have that luxury.
Moore has also declared that Windows Mobile 7 has been put back to late 2010, but it is definitely coming. Moore says we will see a lot more on Windows Mobile 7 which will give consumers and enterprise users what they want, flexibility on a much easier touch user interface.


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– Fiona Dawson, president of Mars Chocolate UK
We were absolutely delighted to host Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at Mars Chocolate UK.
We have been manufacturing chocolate in Slough for over 80 years and it was a real privilege to have the opportunity to share our UK manufacturing heritage with our guests and introduce some of our fantastic associates.
We have over 1,000 associates working on the site and everyone was thrilled to be part of the visit.
It has been one of the most exciting days at Mars Chocolate UK since we first opened the factory in 1932.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have been to visit the Mars headquarters in Slough today.


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General Motors has confirmed that it is pushing back by one year the mass production of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV and 2024 GMC Sierra EV. The automaker says that the delay has nothing to do with the current UAW strike but is rather a response to lackluster EV truck demand. The automaker is also hoping to make changes to make the EV trucks more profitable.
GM’s New EV Pickup Timeline
GM announced in January of 2022 that it planned to convert its Orion Township plant just north of Detroit over to build the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV and the 2024 GMC Sierra EV. Currently, the Orion plant builds Chevrolet Bolt EVs, but that production is scheduled to end at the end of 2023. Now GM plans to idle the plant until late 2025 when the EV truck production will get underway. UAW workers will be offered transfers to other facilities while the plant is idled.
Spokesperson Kevin Kelly said in a statement that the conversion is being delayed "to better manage capital investment while aligning with evolving EV demand.” Kelly added, "In addition, we have identified engineering improvements that we will implement to increase the profitability of our products."
When GM announced the planned $4 billion dollar conversion of Orion Assembly, it said that the facility will get new body and paint shops and new general assembly and battery pack assembly areas.
Current EV Pickup Production
GM is already building the Chevrolet Silverado EV work truck at its Factory Zero plant on the Detroit-Hamtramck border. The plant also builds the GMC HUMMER and an autonomous electric vehicle for Cruise. Obviously, production is limited with three large vehicles being produced at the one plant. According to the original Orion Plant conversion announcement, it was intended to help GM expand EV production and achieve “an increase in total full-size electric truck production capacity to 600,000 trucks when both Factory ZERO and Orion facilities are fully ramped.” Now that won’t happen until late 2025 at the very earliest.
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.


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CLEARink Wins the Frost & Sullivan 2018 Technology Innovation Award
CLEARink technology recognized for its value to end users, application diversity, commercialization plan, and visionary innovation
Beijing, April 10 2018 – CLEARink Displays Inc, the leader in next-generation ePaper, announced today that it has won the Frost & Sullivan 2018 Technology Innovation Award for its reflective display technology.
“CLEARink’s reflective display is a technology innovation and forerunner in the reflective display industry, demonstrating high potential to become an industry standard in the future,” said Varun Babu, Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.
CLEARink has developed ePaper 2.0, the world’s first reflective display that is color and video/Internet capable. Frost & Sullivan analysis finds that CLEARink’s strategy of targeting high-impact industries is a key factor in expanding its reach into different geographies. The company targets the education and wearables markets, where traditional display technologies are not a good fit. The company has seen great traction in the education market because of growing concerns about the lack of outdoor readability with traditional displays, which forces students to learn in daylight-deprived classrooms, as well as the detrimental impact of long-term exposure to emissive displays and backlights.
According to Frost & Sullivan research, the display market will likely reach $200 billion by 2024, thus positioning CLEARink’s reflective technology as more of a transformational solution. Furthermore, Frost & Sullivan believes the development of low-cost display products that are simple to manufacture in existing, fully depreciated factories underscores CLEARink’s best practice of demonstrating product differentiation in the reflective display industry.
“CLEARink’s team is honored to receive the prestigious Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award for this year,” said Frank Christiaens, CEO and Chairman, CLEARink Displays. “We started the company on the belief that our disruptive display technology would not only have tremendous commercial value but also make a difference in the lives of millions. Its very gratifying to receive accolades such as this globally recognized award from industry experts.”
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages more than 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from 45 offices on six continents. To join Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.
About CLEARink Displays, Inc.
CLEARink is a leader in reflective display technology for eSchoolbooks, Wearables, IoT, electronic shelf labels (ESLs), outdoor signage and automotive applications. CLEARink’s patent protected TIR technology is a superior alternative to existing reflective displays, providing unparalleled video and color representation, using a fraction of the energy consumed by LCD, with a highly competitive cost structure. Founded in 2012, the company has raised over US$20 million in financing from strategic investors in the display industry and is headquartered in Fremont, California. For more information, visit http://www.clearinkdisplays.com.
Media Contact: Flora Yang firstname.lastname@example.org


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La Crosse CBD store says medical marijuana bill will help people with health issues
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — In a bill proposed by Republican lawmakers, medical marijuana in oil, pill or topical form would be legal.
Cannabis store owners say this is just the first step to understanding the benefits marijuana has to offer.
“Recognizing the benefits of cannabis that we get to see every day,” says Dillon Beyer, owner of Tree Huggers Co-Op.
Beyer says medical marijuana can treat several health issues.
“Nervous system relief, stress, anxiety and sleep, then pain relief in terms of arthritis and inflammation,” Beyer said.
Opponents argue it’s too dangerous to use, it’s not FDA-approved, and various legal drugs make marijuana use unnecessary, but veteran Paige Lindquist says she uses it to manage pain safely.
“I’ve used cannabis in the past and it’s always been a better option for me than any type of pharmaceutical,” Lindquist said.
Lindquist says legalizing medical marijuana would provide veterans with alternative medicine.
“You know I speak just for veterans and veterans that I know,” Lindquist said. “But I am an advocate for cannabis use and the legalization of cannabis.”
Beyer says if medical marijuana is legalized, CBD stores may have to change the way they operate.
“We would set up a checkpoint there where you would be checked. You know we should probably consider hiring someone in the medical field,” Beyer said.
Only eight medical conditions are approved for medical marijuana use under the bill. Other sanitary conditions could be added if the bill is passed. Wisconsin is one of 14 states that have yet to legalize medical marijuana.
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.


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A significant announcement for game developers emerged from the Google I/O keynote in San Francisco this morning: Google officially launched Google Play game services, a framework to help facilitate social play, cloud-based storage of saved games and multiplayer gameplay. What's more, they're taking it to iOS - a challenge to Apple's own Game Kit frameworks, the technology that enables iOS games to tap into Apple's Game Center app.
While games have been plentiful on Google Play, Google's actual gaming Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have lagged behind, so Google Play game services comes as good news to Android developers. Developers have either had to roll their own services or rely on third-party tools to add things like achievements, competition ladders and public leaderboards. Now that all comes as an API package from Google.
Several game developers have been let in the door early, so Google also announced Android games already making use of the new technology: World of Goo, Super Stickman Golf 2, Beach Buggy Blitz, Kingdom Rush, Eternity Warriors 2 and Osmos.
Perhaps it's no coincidence that each of these games is available for iOS. iOS games have been a huge focus of energy for developers and are key moneymakers for many of them, so Google's decision to make Google Play game services cross platform is a smart one.
Apple has had its own frameworks for managing much of this for quite some time - Game Center was introduced way back in 2010 with iOS 4.1. It's been widely adopted by iOS game developers, but it's an Apple-exclusive technology. Game Center provides both Mac and iOS games with a frameworks for managing social connectivity, multiplayer, achievements and more, but if you're a cross-platform developer, you're out of luck. In that respect, Google Play game services may be a better choice for developers looking to maximize their potential player base.
Google Play game services isn't the first time a cross-platform social platform for iOS and Android games has been produced. One of the highest profile examples of this was OpenFeint. OpenFeint preceded Game Center and built up a good head of steam before being sold to a Japanese company, which promptly shut it down in favor of its own technology.
If there's an Achilles' heel in Google Play game services, it's the fact that it isn't mandatory for Android developers to use, and it is, of course, purely optional for iOS developers to work with.
So there's no way to tell today how well-received or widespread the technology will be. Then again, neither is Game Center, though it's become the de facto standard for iOS games. Google understands the importance of game developers to the Android ecosystem, so I doubt that Google Play game services will end up on the scrap heap like so many other Google projects have.
Will Google Play game services take over Game Center's territory, or is it likely to end up like OpenFeint did? Let us know what you think in the comments.


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Cheltenham Racecourse has announced Betway as new sponsor of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at The Cheltenham Festival.
The Betway brand will be seen throughout Cheltenham Racecourse on the festivals Ladies Day for the next three years.
Ian Renton, Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Betway to Cheltenham as the sponsor of the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the next three years.
“This is Betway’s first venture into race sponsorship and it is great news that they have chosen to work with us at Cheltenham on such a high-profile race as the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
“I’m sure Betway will really enjoy the experience, as well as find it hugely rewarding in regards to brand exposure.”
Bob Dutnall, Executive Director at Betway, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring a race as prestigious as the Queen Mother Champion Chase and are proud to commit for a minimum of three years.
“Betway is one of the fastest growing brands in the global gaming industry and we already have exciting plans in place with Cheltenham Racecourse that will allow visitors to The Festival to get to know us a little better.
“This season’s renewal promises to be a memorable one with a potential mouth-watering clash between the returning Sprinter Sacre and the 2014 winner Sire De Grugy”.


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Upon the disclosure of its third quarter 2011 financial results, China Sunergy noted that its results were direct reflections of lackluster market demand, coupled with faster than expected average selling price (ASP) declines and inventory write-downs. The Q3 2011 revenues saw no significant change with revenues being finalized at US$145.8 million, a 1.3% increase over Q2 2011 results and a 15.9% year-over-year surge.
China Sunergy advised that the slight 1.3% increase quarter-over-quarter in its revenues was mainly due to an increase in quarterly shipments, but went on to note that corresponding revenues were offset by falling ASPs.
Shipments for the third quarter totaled 116.2MW, of which module shipments accounted for 115.6MW, the highest quarterly shipment volume for the company to date.
Although the shipment results showed a 30.1% increase over Q2 2011 shipments, actual shipments fell below the company’s previously stated guidance of 140MW to 160MW. The company also stated that sales decreased in Q3 from the European market, but increased in new market segments. Revenue from module sales was US$145.5 million, making up 99.7% of the quarter’s total revenue.
Gross margin for Q3 2011 was -13.7%, lower than the 4% to 5% range China Sunergy originally forecasted. The company commented that its gross margin results were affected by the added US$26.8 million in inventory provisions stemming from falling ASPs. The average selling price per watt for China Sunergy’s modules was US$1.26 per watt, a 23.2% dip over Q2’s US$1.64 per watt results.
Stephen Cai, CEO of China Sunergy, commented, “Our third quarter results were disappointing, and we foresee more difficulties in the fourth quarter and winter months. The whole industry is experiencing pain at the moment. Rapidly falling prices have disrupted demand temporarily, as customers delay purchases while waiting for prices to stabilize. But solar power prices are getting closer to grid parity in comparison to the cost of electricity generated by fossil fuels, and the long term future for survivors in this industry is bright. Companies like China Sunergy, which can move quickly to cut spending and output, while maintaining strong cash reserves and financing arrangements, are in a good position to ride out the storm. Moreover, our efficient and cost-competitive Quasar technology is the crucial factor that will allow China Sunergy to persevere and ultimately thrive.”
In the outlook for the fourth quarter and full year guidance, China Sunergy acknowledged that a continuously weak demand in the market and an industry oversupply would continue to affect its results. The company is expecting shipments in Q4 2011 to reach between 95MW and 110MW. Gross margin levels are anticipated to break even in the quarter while a net loss is projected during Q4. The full 2011 year has China Sunergy predicting total shipments to be between 395MW and 410MW.


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OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition will offer ultra-fast charging
Tomorrow will be the second coming of OnePlus 7T, but this time it will be a global release. It is expected that the company will make up the new OnePlus 7T Pro, as well as its exclusive version of McLaren Edition. What is the version with a zakos for automotive topics will differ from the usual Pro-variation, there is little information.
The company’s previously published teaser confirmed that the creators will once again offer a carbon-fiber texture to the case, as well as an orange touch on the new look.
And today, rumors appeared on the network that another improvement in the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition would be an increase in charging speed. According to the source, we are talking about the implementation of fast charging technology with a capacity of 50 watts.
Recall that according to available information, the OnePlus 7T Pro and its luxury version of McLaren will differ in the presence of the Snapdragon 855+ hardware platform, a 4085 mAh battery and, possibly, the novelty will receive a top-end modification with 512 GB of permanent memory on board.
Tomorrow's presentation of the series of events will not end. The company will host another press conference on the OnePlus 7T series in China and will take place on October 15th.
OnePlus 7T Pro press renderings leaked online
OnePlus announced the launch date for the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro in China, and also confirmed the release of McLaren Edition